THE WILD PARTY (1929)

Special Features: New 4K Restoration | Introduction by film historian Farran Smith Nehme

Clara Bow stars as the spirited leader of a rebellious group of friends — the self-styled “hard-boiled maidens” — who embrace a carefree, party-fueled lifestyle at a women’s college and show little interest in academics. After being thrown out of a school dance for their revealing outfits, the gang heads to a rough roadhouse, where the night takes a darker turn and Bow’s character is abducted by a group of drunken men. Though Bow was reportedly nervous during the making of this movie, her first talkie, her trademark charisma and boundless energy remain intact, giving the film much of its charm. Based on the controversial novel “Unforbidden Fruit,” the film is directed by Dorothy Arzner, who skillfully balances themes of female friendship and solidarity (and sapphic overtones) with the budding romance between Bow’s character and a young professor (Fredric March), whom she first encounters by accidentally climbing into his train berth. DIR Dorothy Arzner; SCR Samuel Hopkins Adams; SCR/PROD E. Lloyd Sheldon, SCR from Hopkins’ novel “Unforbidden Fruit." U.S., 1929, b&w, 77 min. NOT RATED

4K restoration by Universal Pictures.

Run Time: 77 Minutes

Opening Date: Friday, November 07, 2025

Genre: Comedy

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